The Crown of Anavrea (The Theodoric Saga)

by Rachel Rossano

  Jealousy briefly reared its ugly head as Atluer leaned over his wife. Wrestling it down, Labren reminded himself of the past. He did not want to go through that again. Eve met his eyes over Atluer’s shoulder and she smiled reassuringly. A warm sensation filled Labren’s chest. In that one glance, Labren was reminded of her words and actions in that cramped little hole. She loved him and no one else.

  They were not going to have to go back inside that little hole. The relief of that revelation drowned out all other thoughts. Eve missed the rest of what Han was saying to her. She looked up as he mentioned Trahern needing help down the back stairs. Following her thoughts, she sought Labren’s face as he watched them from across the room. Their eyes met and she smiled.

  He loved her. She still could not believe it. No one had ever loved her before. Well, no one she remembered except her brother.

  “Eve?” Han’s voice cut through her thoughts. “You have not heard a word I have said, have you.”

  Eve noted the hint of impatience in his voice as she drew her attention back to his serious face.

  “Now, I know you are tired, but I need you to concentrate for a few minutes longer.” He took her hand. “Do you think you could walk down stairs with only the professor’s help?”

  Eve nodded. “I am sorry, Han.” She offered him a weary smile. “I will be fine with the professor’s help. Are you going to help Labren alone?”

  “I am going to ask Prince Ireic to help me with Trahern.” He turned to rejoin the men, but looked back over his shoulder at her. “I would recommend calling Labren, Trahern while in Ireic’s presence. That way you two can use Labren later as an alias.” Eve nodded her understanding as Ireic approached.

  “Ready to start?” he asked Han.

  “Yes,” Han answered. Turning to Eve, he introduced the prince. “Prince Ireic, I would like you to meet Eve Theodoric.” Ireic smiled down at her warmly. He looked very much like Labren, only shorter and with different eyes. “Eve, this is His Highness, Crown Prince of Anavrea, Ireic Theodoric.

  “It is a pleasure, Your Highness.” Suddenly thankful for all the studying she had done since arriving at the school, she was about to rise and attempt a curtsey, but Ireic prevented her.

  “Please don’t get up, Mistress Theodoric. I am very honored to meet you.” He paused as Han turned to the professor. Then lowering his voice, he said. “Please call me Ireic. We are sister and brother now.” He winked. “I would be honored if you would consider me a friend. I do not have many I can trust, and I wish to add both you and Trahern to that list.”

  Olof approached and Ireic drew away to help Han. She rose to her feet and they were on their way.

  With the professor’s steady hand and guidance, the trip down to the second floor was uneventful for Eve. Abrigail was pulling the last wrinkles out of the bedding as they arrived.

  “Ah, there you are. There is fresh water in the pitcher, and I changed the linens. Do you want some more to eat? Han said you didn’t get much chance to eat.”

  Labren and his assistants arrived at that moment. All three men dripped sweat and Labren trembled from the effort, face pale as a ghost. He fell onto the bed with a groan and was still.

  “You’ve gained weight since I last dragged you around.” Han sagged against the door frame.

  “Muscle,” Labren replied. He rolled onto his side.

  “Whatever it is, you are heavy.”

  “Thanks.” Labren smirked before grimacing as he tried to lift his leg from the floor to the mattress. Eve caught it and eased the foot the rest of the way. Not bothering with undressing him, she pulled the folded blanket at the end of the bed over him.

  Abrigail pulled a heavy quilt from the chest beneath the window and handed it to Eve. “You two need your rest. Do you want food before you sleep?”

  Eve met Labren’s pained gaze and shook her head.

  “Very well.” Abrigail straightened her apron upon turning to Prince Ireic and Han. “Now, you two, out.” She shooed the men out before her. She whispered to Eve as she closed the door. “I will bring you breakfast late in the morning. Sleep well.”

  The lock settled solidly into place.

  “Eve?” Labren shifted. “Please come warm me, I can’t stop shivering.”

  Eve crept over to the bed, covered him with the extra layer, and slipped in beside her feverish husband. She would be by his side no matter what happened. Even a crown would not drive her away. Thank you, Kurios, for his love.

  Labren’s breathing slowed into sleep about the time she settled her arms around him. Eve, more content and happy than she had ever been in her whole life, kissed his forehead and fell asleep listening to his steady heartbeat.

  Labren savored the sweetness of Eve in his bed. Without opening his eyes, he lay still and listened to the rhythm of her breathing. Her solid warmth against his side radiated comfort. How had he ever thought he was complete without her?

  The sun coming in the window above them warmed the small room. Its heat seeped through the quilts making his feet sweat. If he listened carefully, he could hear the sound of the children below eating the morning meal.

  Slowly he opened his eyes.

  Eve sighed softly and turned over, away from him. He prevented her from falling off the side of the bed. The movement roused her and the muscles in his legs. Pain sliced through his thigh, leaving a dull ache in its wake. Trying to ignore it, Labren concentrated on the beautiful green of Eve’s sleepy eyes.

  “Good morning.” He smiled at her bewilderment. “We are waking late this morning.” He drew her close and kissed her forehead.

  “Where are we?” Her voice came out a husky alto, rough from sleep. “Oh, now I remember.” With a smile, she snuggled closer. “How are you feeling?”

  “I should probably be asking you that instead.” He ran his hands through her hair. “You were the one that fainted last night.”

  He felt her smile slightly against his chest. “I feel fine so far.”

  “Good. Or else I would have to do something to my brother for putting you through so much last evening.”

  Eve shivered slightly at the memory.

  Labren tightened his embrace and just soaked in the bliss he had been waiting so long for. She was his and he was hers in a way that he never thought he would be experiencing. She uttered a small sound of contentment and they fell back into sleep together.

  Many hours later, after a cold breakfast and a short conversation with Abrigail, Eve and Labren pored over her history textbooks together. She was attempting to memorize the history of Anavrea.

  “I hated this subject when I was here,” Labren declared. Memories of reciting long chronicles to a younger Professor Olof in those far off days still made him flinch.

  “But it helped you later, right?” Eve gently turned the page of the tome on the desk and smoothed the yellowing pages. “Especially the slavery laws. Are there Anavrean slavery laws that would affect my position there?” She looked curiously over at him.

  Lying back on the bed, Labren regarded the peeling ceiling and tried to recall.

  “The ways a slave can be made free in Anavrea are if the price the owner paid has been earned by the slave, the owner files the paperwork to free the slave, or the slave marries a free man or woman.

  “Here in Braulyn, the owner has to free the slave or the marriage clause. Someone can buy the slave’s freedom as your brother intended, but there is no way for a slave to earn his own freedom.

  “Larkaria has very few slaves and those that are slaves have short enslavement periods.

  “Sardmara is the worst, though. There you are a slave for life unless you can prove you were wrongfully enslaved.” He frowned slightly. “The Sardmarians are the only active slavers in this part of the world. They have no laws about slaves having rights to decent living conditions and treatment.”

  He looked over at her.

  “The Sardmarians are the only ones who sell their own people into slavery. All other slaves are ind
entured because of debt, or war.” He grimaced. “Han was a Larkarian prisoner of war sold by his captors. He didn’t know his parents or even his family name.” He caught Eve’s grieved look and tried to wipe the frown off his face.

  “This is an awful subject to be discussing this early in the morning. I am eager for a change in topic.” He grinned mischievously at her.

  Eve set down the book and crossed to the bed. Leaning down to kiss him, she said, “Thank you for saving me from…”

  She did not finish, because Labren had pulled her down on top of him and was intent on thoroughly kissing her. She was gasping for breath when they were interrupted be a light knocking on the door. Reluctantly, Labren drew back a little.

  Preventing her from going very far, Labren called out. “Who is there?”

  “Ruarc, I wish to speak with my sister.”

  Labren groaned, but Eve hushed him with a fingertip to his lips. “I will speak with him a moment and get him to leave.”

  She crossed to the door and opened it. Ruarc filled the opening and his anger rolled into the room in a tidal wave. “Han just told me you fainted last night. He is overworking you.” He emphasized his point with a glare for Labren. “Look at him, lazy and good for nothing.”

  “Ruarc, now is not the time to discuss this.” Eve moved to close the door, but Ruarc planted a foot in the way.

  “No, now is the time. I want you to see reason before this ogre wears you into the ground. It won’t stop until then. Just wait until you are with child. You will see.”

  The tone of Ruarc’s voice drove Labren from the bed. He was finished with listening to his accusations without confronting some of them. Ignoring the pain that sliced through his leg, he pulled himself to his feet with the help of the bed post.

  Eve, still unaware of Labren’s movement, protested Ruarc’s words in her own way. “Ruarc, you don’t understand. You haven’t been listening. I chose Labren. I chose this life. I have every intention of standing by my choice no matter what you say. I love Labren and he loves me.” She looked up in surprise when Labren’s hand finally rested on her shoulder.

  “I don’t appreciate you speaking to my wife in that tone, Ruarc.”

  Ruarc’s chin rose in defiance. “You have no right to call her your…”

  “Excuse me,” Atluer’s voice cut off Ruarc’s vehement statement. “Trahern, your brother requests your presence in the study downstairs. I was sent to escort you.” He looked from Ruarc’s angry red features, Eve’s pale cheeks, to Labren’s tight jaw. “Is everything under control here?”

  After a tense silence, Ruarc grunted. “Think about what I said, little sister. I speak the truth.”

  “You cannot speak the truth if you aren’t willing to listen to it first,” Eve whispered. She didn’t meet her brother’s eyes, but the line of her shoulders was defiant.

  Ruarc turned away and stalked off in the direction of the bedrooms.

  “Are you alright?” Labren asked, laying a hand on Eve’s shoulder.

  She nodded. Lifting her chin, she smiled weakly. “He will listen eventually.” Her mouth quivered, but she steadied it. “Are you going to need my help with the stairs?”

  “No.” He smiled and stroked her cheek. “But I would like you to come with me.”

  “Of course.”

  Atluer stepped over to offer physical support. “Then let us head that way.”

  Eve knocked on the door to the study. They had taken the back stairs to the hallway by the schoolrooms. This smaller entrance to the professor’s study was less obvious than the double doors that opened into the main hallway. Labren leaned heavily on Han’s shoulders as they waited for the door to open.

  Labren kept looking worriedly over his shoulder at the empty hallway. No one knew how long it was going to stay empty. Just as Eve thought she heard footsteps coming from the front hall, the door finally opened and Olof ushered them inside.

  With Han’s help, Labren made it to one of the chairs near the corner and out of sight from either door. Ireic perched on the desk facing away from them. Olof paced back and forth in front of Ireic. Han insisted she sit down before they did anything else.

  “I don’t want to have to catch you if you faint.” He commented softly as she took her place. She shot him a mildly annoyed look and obeyed. She caught a wink from him before he retreated to the center of the room. Inwardly she smiled. As weird as it seemed, she liked that he was comfortable enough to tease her.

  “A messenger arrived an hour ago with news from Ana City.” Suddenly Olof advanced on Labren. “The King is dead.”

  Labren was used to the professor’s abrupt ways, but Eve thought this seemed a little much. She grew concerned as Labren turn white.

  “Olof!” Han leapt to Labren’s side.

  “That wasn’t necessary,” Ireic protested.

  “You did not have to just jump him like that.” Han was more upset than Eve had ever seen him before. He almost seemed angry.

  Ireic turned to his brother. “I am sorry, Trahern.” Pain and grief were written clearly across his features. “Eve?” Ireic turned almost timidly toward her. He was seeking forgiveness where none was needed. It was not his fault that the professor was showing no tact.

  “It is not your fault.” Labren spoke from behind her. “You and I knew this was coming.” He rose as she turned to look at him. “I just did not expect it so soon.” Ignoring Han’s offered support, Labren looked to her. “Eve, take me back upstairs.” His eyes were pleading and she could see the unshed tears threatening his defenses. He needed her right now. She walked over and offered her shoulders.

  The men let them leave. Han spoke as they passed him. “If you need help, let me know.”

  Eve did not look up, but nodded as he opened the door for them. She was quite sure she could get Labren back to their small bedroom. What she could do after that, she was not certain.

  About an hour later, Labren, exhausted and spent from grief, finally slept. Eve quietly slipped out the door and almost tripped over Han in the hallway outside.

  “Is he okay?” Han asked the moment she had regained her balance. His concern touched her heart. Labren had a true friend in this man.

  Smiling warmly up into his worried green eyes, she said, “He fell asleep a short while ago. The news hit him harder than he wants to admit.”

  Han nodded. He knew Labren well enough to expect as much. He treated both physical and mental pain the same way. “Is there anything I could do to help?” Han asked.

  “You could wait here and listen for him,” Eve replied. “I was going to go find the professor and, possibly, Ireic. I have some questions for both of them.” She was uncertain what exactly she intended to ask, but she needed to understand the situation better.

  “I will sit outside the door.” As she turned to go, he offered. “I believe they are both up in the library. Ireic is taking the king’s death pretty hard; so, don’t be upset if he is short with you.”

  Eve turned back to look at him. She smiled. “Thanks. Don’t block the doorway. Labren would not recover as easily as I did.”

  He acknowledged her gentle rebuke and settled into the chair a short distance from the door.

  The familiar smell of dust and books greeted Eve as she passed through the large doorway into the school’s library. She had spent many long hours poring over books of history, politics, and protocol in this room. The three floor-to-ceiling windows along the opposite wall looked out over the grounds spread behind the mansion. She knew the view well. One could watch the frolicking of the children on the lawn below or enjoy the majesty of the mountains towering against the sky to the west.

  Ireic seemed to be doing that now. He stood in a classic pose, a dark shadow against the afternoon light. Shoulders squared, hands clasped behind his waist, and feet slightly apart, his stance suggested quiet and serious consideration. She doubted he contemplated the miniature young people moving about two stories below or the mountains beyond.

  The
professor was sitting unusually still. She found him watching her when she looked for him. He sat in an overstuffed winged chair between the two right most windows at Ireic’s right. They were close enough to be in conversation, but Eve suspected a lengthy lull stretched before her entrance. Olof spoke softly to Ireic, “Eve is here,” as she approached them.

  Ireic turned. She stopped just beyond the end of the last table between her and the windows. His face was in shadow, but his body language spoke of hesitancy. Awkwardly, she waited for him to speak first.

  “Princess Eve.” His voice’s steadiness contradicted his body’s report.

  She dropped into a small curtsy. Thankful that she had been practicing, she murmured a soft, “Your Majesty.” He nodded as she rose.

  “How is my brother?” Concern colored his voice.

  “He sleeps, Your Majesty.”

  “Please.” Ireic almost pleaded. “Don’t be so formal. I want to put that off as long as I can.” He stepped to the side and forward out of the light. She could distinguish the discomfort in his face as he continued. “Please call me Ireic or brother or…” He had run out of ideas. “…Anything but, ‘Your Majesty.’ Could you?” She slowly nodded. His face relaxed and he turned back toward the window.

  “Do you think I will be able to convince Trahern to take the crown?” Eve followed him to the window.

  “I do not know.” She honestly did not. “I came to ask some questions of my own…Ireic.”

  He regarded her a moment and then smiled slightly. “I suppose you would have questions. Well, ask them. If I cannot answer to your satisfaction, I am sure that the professor would be able to.” He swept a hand toward the strangely subdued man sitting in the shadows to their right.

  She glanced at the floor. “What is my husband’s standing legally?” She met Ireic’s eyes. “Was he outlawed or just banished?”